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Press Release

7/21/2009

TALLAHASSEE—Florida CFO Sink is warning Floridians not to respond to a fraudulent email being circulated claiming to be from CFO Sink and requesting personal information in exchange for help with a contract or inheritance file. The fraudulent email further indicates the offer is affiliated with a federal program, including the offer of an ATM card that allows the user to withdraw up to $10,500 a day. CFO Sink cautioned Floridians that the email is in no way connected with her of the Department of Financial Services and that it appears to be an attempt to steal identities from recipients.

The Department of Financial Services, which CFO Sink oversees, received the first notice of the fraudulent email from a consumer on July 18. The fraudulent email is unclear how the consumer was targeted for assistance, but opens with this statement: “This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract/inheritance file and found out why you have not received your payment, based on the fact that you have not fulfilled all the obligations given to you in respect of your contract/inheritance payment.”

The fraudulent email directs the consumer to email personal data to a Mrs. Annie Marshall, Payment Director, ATM Payment Department. The Department of Financial Services has no employee with that name, no such payment center and is not affiliated with any such center.

The Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Integrity is looking into the matter. Anyone with information about the email or who is sending it, as well as anyone who receives the email is asked to call the Department’s Consumer Helpline at 1-850-413-3089 or 1-877-My-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).